Lens holder



Aug. 22, R967 L. o. UPTON ETAL LENS HOLDER 2 Sheets-Sheet Filed June 1,1966 LEE Q. LIPTON EDWARD J. CMWfixLEH Aug. 22, 1967 UPTON ETAL3,336,902

LENS HOLDER Filed June 1, 1966 2 Sheets-Sheet Z INVENTORS LEE 0. UPTOINEDWAR D J. CHWALEK United States Patent 3,336,902 LENS HOLDER Lee 0.Upton, Stllrbridge, and Edward J. Chwalek, Southbridge, Mass., assignorsto American Optical Company,

Southhridge, Mass., a voluntary association of Massachusetts Filed June1, 1966, Ser. No. 554,497 4 Claims. (Cl. 118-503) This invention relatesprimarily to lens holders and more particularly to an apparatus usefulin securing a lens substantially in a plane perpendicular to the axis ofa spinning mechanism to enable the deposition and spinning of a liquidcoating onto the lens.

Various devices have been used and proposed for holding lenses inposition for various operations thereon, such as centering, marking,grinding, etc. However, none have combined the improvements andfacilities to be proposed herein for holding the lens securely, evenlydistributing the holding force, providing ease of adjustment, andinsuring the extension of lifetime for the motor means for the spinningprocedure.

Accordingly, it is a primary object of the present invention to providelens holding means which evenly distribute the holding force about thelens;

A further more specific object is to provide a lens holding meanswherein the holding elements move in complete unison to engage the lensto be held;

A still further object is to provide a combination of the above meanswith a clutch assembly to lessen the burden on the spinning motor atspeeds greatly in excess of those heretofore used.

These and other objects are accomplished in one illustrative embodimentof the invention wherein a three-part holding mechanism is coupled to aslip clutch with the system being spun by a motor means. The three-partholding means comprises a first plate including a number of channelsequal to the number of holding posts protruding from the third part. Thesecond part comprises a number of channels equal to the number of postswhich may be placed in substantial registry with the channels of thefirst part upon rotation of the second part relative to the first part.The third part has attached thereto a number of post plates individuallyrotatable about independent points on the third plate. The post plateshave protruding therefrom, through the channels of the first and secondparts, holding posts for contacting the lens to be held. Also protrudingfrom each of the post plates is a guide pin which protrudes through aslot in the second plate. As the second plate is rotated by hand orother means, the guide pins are moved by the motion of the slots of thesecond plate to cause rotatable movement of the post plates outwardlyaway from the center of the mechanism. When the posts are in properposition to receive the lens, the lens is deposited between the postswith springs being provided to force the post plates and therefore theposts in holding engagement with the lens. The springs act as a holdingforce until setting bolts can be tightened through slots in the firstplate to engage threaded holes in the second plate thereby discontinuingthe motion between the first and second plates.

Other objects, features and embodiments of the invention will bedescribed in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawingswherein:

FIG. 1 is a top view of the first plate of the holding mechanism;

FIG. 2 is a top view of the second plate of the holding mechanism;

FIG. 3 is a top view view of the third part of the holding mechanismshowing attached thereto springs and post plates;

FIG. 4 is a perspective representation of an exploded view of the lensholding mechanism and clutch assembly for the complete lens holder;

FIG. 5 is an assembly perspective of the lens holder; and,

FIG. 5a is a partial top view representation showing the lens holdingposts engaging a lens.

Referring first to FIG. 1, there is shown a top view of the first plateof the lens holding mechanism. This plate comprises a plurality ofchannels 12 and slots 14. Also shown are bolt holes 16 and locating pins18.

FIG. 2 is a top view of second plate 20 comprising slots 22, threadedholes 24, handles 26, channels 28, and a central locating bore 29.

FIG. 3 represents the top view of the third part which comprises a plate32, handles 33, and rotatable post plates 34, with each of the postplates having a lens holding post and a guide pin 36. The third partalso has protruding from the plate 32 a raised portion 37 which hasthreaded holes 38 and locating pin receptacles 39. Also shown arehairpin springs 40 anchored by screws 41. It should also be noticed thatthe rotatable plates 34 have their axes of rotation at point 42.

FIG. 4 represents an exploded View of the entire lens holding mechanismand clutch plate, which graphically illustrates the mating relationshipof the various parts shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3. It may be seen that thethird part 30 is receivable by the clutch so that the surface of thethird part engages surface 54 of the clutch. Channels 28 of the secondplate are for receiving pins 35, with slots 22 in the second plate beingto receive pins 36 of the holding post plates 34. The bore 29 of thesecond plate fits snugly around the raised portion 37 of the third part.The channels 12 of the first plate receive posts 35 and pins 18 arereceived by pin receptacles 39 in the third part. Screws 58 then gothrough hole 16 of the first .part to be received by threaded screwreceptacles 38 of the third part. The threaded bolts 56 go throughwashers 57 and slots 14 to be received loosely by threaded holes 24until the locating posts 35 are properly adjusted by rotatable motion ofthe handles 26 with respect to handles 33. When the posts 35 are inproper position and forced towards the held lens by springs 40, thebolts 56 are tightened to hold the posts 35 in firm position.

The assembly of the lens holding mechanism together with clutch St) isshown holding lens 60 in FIG. 5. The operation of the device is by usingmeans such as the thumb of the human hand to handle posts 33 and withsuch means as the finger forcing handles 26 in direction 62 as pins 36slide in slots 22. The lens 60 is then rested on the shoulders of posts35 and the handles 26 released so that hairpin springs 40 force posts 35towards the lens with a small amount of pressure. The knurled screws 56are then tightened to bring the second plate 20 into forced engagementwith the first plate 10 thereby preventing any further rotation betweenthe two plates. Shaft 52 shown in both FIG. 4 and FIG. 5 is therotatable axis for the entire mechanism. When the device is mounted sothat shaft 52 is the shaft of the motor, or connected or coupled to theshaft of the motor, the clutch 50 is brought up to a speed ofapproximately 4,000 rpm. Gradually a frictional engagement isestablished between surface 54 of the clutch and the third part 30. Thisis to insure that the clutch does not snap the lens holding devicequickly up to such a speed. The clutch mechanism further insures that bya gradual speeding up of the rotation of the lens holding device, thelens will not be broken. The clutch further insures an easy decouplingof the lens holding device for cleaning and protects the lifetime of themotor (not shown) since less of a mass is brought quickly up to a highspeed. Also, the clutch can be used with other holders such as a vacuumholder, if one side only of a lens is to be coated.

The hairpin springs discussed with reference to FIGS. 4 and 5 are morereliable than coil springs used in some of the prior art devices sincethey are less susceptible to dripping coating materials and other fluidsclogging the spring action. Furthermore, by using individual hairpinsprings, the spring are thereby individually replaceable and by placingan individual pressure on each post there is greater assurance that onepost wont lag behind the other in contacting the lens 60, as would bethe case with one spring between plates and 20. It should be noticedthat the springs are not used to counteract the centrifugal force whichtends to cause posts 35 to be thrown outward as the mechanism is used.This function is best served by setting screws 56, without the need forthe springs 40 being strong enough to do more than to hold the posts 35in position until the screws 56 are tightened.

FIG. 5a depicts the lens 60 being held by post 35 in position fortightening of the screws 56 (shown in FIG. 5) before operation. Itshould be further noted that the posts form the square of leastdimension about the lens. The holder is therefore useful with almost anyconceivable shape, except possibly a rectangle.

By reference to FIGS. 1 and 2 and the assembly drawing of FIG. 5, it maybe seen that the sides of channels 12 and 28 do not make any actualcontact with posts 35. It seems then that such channels may be widenedconsiderably to larger openings to accomplish a materials saving inproducing the mechanism. However, this potential saving must be balancedin each case to the function served by the relatively narrow channels inpreventing the buildup of coating materials and the like in the moreintricate mechanism of the third part (shown in FIG. 3).

We claim:

1. A lens holding mechanism for a spinning operation comprising a lensholding device which includes a first part having a plurality of firstopenings, first locating pins depending therefrom, and first and secondslots; a second part having a plurality of second openings equal innumber to said plurality of first openings, a plurality of third slotsequal in number to said plurality of first openings, a pair of firsthandles, a central bore, and threaded screw holes; and a third parthaving a plurality of post plates rotatably attached thereto, saidplurality being equal in number to said plurality of second openings, araised portion with holes for receiving said first locating pins and forlocating said'bore centrally with relation to said third part, a pair ofsecond handles, holding posts extending upwardly from said post plates,second locating pins on each of said post plates for insertion into saidthird slots, and spring means for urging said post plates towards thecenter of said mechanism; wherein a pair of setting screws are providedfor insertion into said first and second slots, respectively, and forthreading into said threaded screw holes of said second part after saidpair of first handles and said pair of second handles are rotatedrelative to each other to cause said second locating pins, by therelative motion of said third slots, to rotate said post plates awayfrom the center of the mechanism for insertion of a lens between saidholding posts, to thereafter allow said spring means to urge and holdsaid holding posts toward said center, so that said pair of settingscrews can be tightened through said first and second slots into thethreaded holes in said second part to thereby hold a fixed relationshipbetween said post plates and said third part for the spinning operation.

2. The invention according to claim 1 wherein said first and secondopenings are narrow channels.

3. The invention according to claim 1 wherein said spring means comprisehairpin springs.

4. The invention according to claim 1 wherein said second part comprisesa plate, and said pair of first handles are afiixed rigidly to andextend from said plate, which is rotatable relative to said first andsecond parts.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,835,004 12/1931 Bleecker118-504 2,707,107 4/ 1955 Tucker 279-106 2,723,861 11/1955 Eisler279-106 2,918,097 12/1959 Thompson 269-156 X 2,985,458 5/1961 Everett279-106 3,016,245 1/1962 Zelewsky 279-106 MORRIS KAPLAN, PrimaryExaminer.

1. A LENS HOLDING MECHANISM FOR A SPINNING OPERATION COMPRISING A LENSHOLDING DEVICE WHICH INCLUDES A FIRST PART HAVING A PLURALITY OF FIRSTOPENING, FIRST LOCATING PINS DEPENDING THEREFROM, AND FIRST AND SECONDSLOTS; A SECOND PART HAVING PLURALITY OF SECOND OPENINGS EQUAL IN NUMBERTO SAID PLURALITY OF FIRST OPENINGS, A PLURALITY OF THIRD SLOTS EQUAL INNUMBER TO SAID PLURALITY OF FIRST OPENINGS, A PAIR OF FIRST HANDLES, ACENTRAL BORE, AND THREADED SCREW HOLES; AND A THIRD PART HAVING APLURALITY OF POST PLATES ROTATABLY ATTACHED THERETO, SAID PLURALITYBEING EQUAL IN NUMBER TO SAID PLURALITY OF SECOND OPENINGS, A RAISEDPORTION WITH HOLES FOR RECEIVING SAID FIRST LOCATING PINS AND FORLOCATING SAID BORE CENTRALLY WITH RELATION TO SAID THIRD PART, A PAIR OFSECOND HANDLES, HOLDING POSTS EXTENDING UPWARDLY FROM SAID POST PLATES,SECOND LOCATING PINS ON EACH OF SAID POST PLATES FOR INSERTION INTO SAIDTHIRD SLOTS, AND SPRING MEANS FOR URGING SAID POST PLATES TOWARDS THECENTER OF SAID MECHANISM; WHEREIN A PAIR OF SETTING SCREWS ARE PROVIDEDFOR INSERTION INTO SAID FIRST AND SECOND SLOTS, RESPECTIVELY, AND FORTHREADING INTO SAID THREADED SCREW HOLES OF SAID SECOND PART AFTER SAIDPAIR OF FIRST HANDLES AND SAID PAIR OF SECOND HANDLES ARE ROTATEDRELATIVE TO EACH OTHER TO CAUSE SAID SECOND LOCATING PINS, BY THERELATIVE MOTION OF SAID THIRD SLOTS, TO ROTATE SAID POST PLATES AWAYFROM THE CENTER OF THE MECHANISM FOR INSERTION OF A LENS BETWEEN SAIDHOLDING POSTS, TO THEREAFTER ALLOW SAID SPRING MEANS TO URGE AND HOLDSAID HOLDING POSTS TOWARD SAID CENTER, SO THAT SAID PAIR OF SETTINGSCREWS CAN BE TIGHTENED THROUGH SAID FIRST AND SECOND SLOTS INTO THETHREADED HOLES IN SAID SECOND PART TO THEREBY HOLD A FIXED RELATIONSHIPBETWEEN SAID POST PLATES AND SAID THIRD PART FOR THE SPINNING OPERATION.